Youre locked in, Fatty, said Pip. Were going down now. If you can get out of here, youre clever! You cant get out of the window. Theres a sheer drop to the ground.
Im not going to try the window, said Fatty. I shall walk out of the door.
The others went down, feeling rather disbelieving. Fatty surely couldnt be as clever as all that! Why, it would be like magic if he could go through a locked door!
Only Bets really believed he could. She sat with her eyes on the playroom door, waiting for him to come. Pip got out the ludo board.
Lets have a game, he said. Old Fatty wont be down for ages, I expect. We shall hear him yelling to be let out in about ten minutes time!
They set the counters in their places. They found the die, and put it in the thrower. Daisy threw first - but before she could move her counter, the door opened and in walked Fatty, grinning all over his plump face.
Golly! How did you do it? asked Larry, in the greatest surprise.
I knew you would! squealed Bets.
How did you do it? asked Pip and Daisy, burning with curiosity. Go on - tell us.
Its easy, said Fatty, smoothing back his tidy hair. Too easy for words.
Dont keep on saying that! Tell us how you did it! said Larry. Its extraordinary.
Well, come up and Ill show you, said Fatty. As a matter of fact, its a thing all detectives ought to jolly well know. Elementary.
Whats elementary? asked Bets, climbing the stairs behind Fatty.
What Ive just said - too easy for words, said Fatty. Well, here we are. Now, Larry, you lock us all four into the room - Buster too, if you like, or hell scratch the door down - and then you can all watch what I do. I tell you, its elementary!
The three who were locked in with Fatty watched in excitement. They saw the door shut. They heard Larry turn the key in the lock. They each tried the door. Yes, it was locked all right.
Now watch, said Fatty. He took a folded newspaper from his pocket and unfolded it. He flattened the big, wide double-sheet. Then, to the childrens surprise, he slid the newspaper under the bottom of the door until only a small piece was left his side.
What have you done that for? That wont open the door! said Bets. Fatty didnt answer.
He took a piece of wire from his pocket and inserted it into the keyhole. The key was in the other side, where Larry had left it. Fatty jiggled about with the piece of wire, and then suddenly gave a slight push.
There was a thud on the other side of the door. Ive pushed the key out, said Fatty. Did you hear it fall? Well, the rest is easy! Its fallen on to the newspaper outside - and all I have to do is to pull the paper carefully back - oh, very carefully, - and the key will come with it!
Holding their breath, the children watched the newspaper being pulled under the door. There was a fair space between door and boards, and the key slid easily under the bottom of the door, appearing inside the room!
Fatty took it, slid it into the lock, turned it - and opened the door!
There you are! he said. Very simple. Too easy for words! How to get out of a locked room in one minute!
Fatty! Its marvellous! Id never, never have thought of that! cried Daisy. Did you make up the trick yourself?
Much as Fatty liked the others to think he was marvellous, he was too honest not to admit it wasnt really his brain-wave. Well, I read it in one of my spy books, he said, and I tried it out when I got locked in for a punishment one afternoon last term. It gave the master a turn, I can tell you, seeing me walk past him after hed locked me up.
Its wonderful, said Bets. So easy, too. Theres only one thing, Fatty, though - it wouldnt work if you were locked up in a room that had a carpet going under the door, because there wouldnt be room to pull in the key.
Youre right, Bets. Thats a good point, said Fatty. Thats why I wanted to be locked into a boxroom, and not in the playroom downstairs.
The others were so thrilled with this new trick that they wanted to try it themselves.
All right, said Fatty. It will be good practice. You simply never know when you might be locked up somewhere. Each of you do it in turn.
So, much to Mrs. Hiltons surprise, the five children and Buster spent the whole afternoon apparently doing nothing but walk in and out of the cold boxroom, to the accompaniment of squeals and giggles.
Jolly good, Find-Outers, said Fatty, when even Bets could escape from the locked room quite easily. Jolly good. Now tomorrow Ill go up to London and get some disguises. Look out for some fun the day after!
A Very Queer Boy
Next day was Fattys birthday. He was always sorry it came so near Christmas, because it meant that many people gave him a Christmas and birthday present in one.
Its bad luck, Fatty, said Daisy. But never mind, we wont do that. Well give you proper birthday presents as well as Christmas presents.
So, early after breakfast, Pip, Bets, Daisy, and Larry walked up to Fattys house to give him the presents they had got for him.
Wed better go early, because Fatty said he was going up to London to buy those disguises, said Daisy.